Cheerleaders signs banned in Georgia

[pastorables]

Community members are rallying around Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders after they were banned from displaying signs with Bible verses urging fans and players to “commit to the Lord” and “take courage and do it.”

The banners — the paper ones that football players crash through at the beginning of games — have been common sights in the school’s football stadium since 2003, local officials say.

“The cheerleaders are not trying to push a religious cause, to shove religion down someone’s throat,” said local youth minister Brad Scott, who was LFO High’s class president in 2004. “The cheerleaders are just using Scripture to show motivation and inspiration to the players and the fans.”

Catoosa County Schools spokeswoman Marissa Brower said a Fort Oglethorpe resident lodged a verbal complaint to Superintendent Denia Reese last week, saying that the display of a Bible verse on the football field is a violation of federal law.

A school system statement released Monday said the message constitutes “a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution for signs with Bible verses to be displayed on the football field.”

Mr. Scott said the ban prompted a rally tonight in support of the cheerleaders outside the Chick-fil-A restaurant on Battlefield Parkway so people can show their support for the cheerleaders and their signs.

A Facebook page called “We Support the LFO Cheerleaders! LET THEM HAVE THEIR SIGNS BACK!” also has been established.

[MacUser]

Amazing. When are we going to let the tiny few control the majority?
Wake up America... or better yet GEORGIA!!

[macgulley]

Maybe the other team was afraid Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe would have an unfair advantage with God on their side.

[oletimer]

A school system statement released Monday said the message constitutes “a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution for signs with Bible verses to be displayed on the football field.”

I'm no expert on the First Amendment, but I would for someone show me any where in the Amendment were it says any thing like that.

I will grant that some judge's order might say that but not the First Amendment.

Who says that judges don't make laws? And we let them.

[pastorables]

I have seen pictures of many of the cheerleaders scripture signs. They are beautiful. I have attached one for an example.

pa

[dawgs10]

[quote="pastorables"]I have seen pictures of many of the cheerleaders scripture signs. They are beautiful. I have attached one for an example.




i live close to LFO!!! the issue is this. the signs are made by students. (cheer leaders). they a displayed by students. and supported by the FCA. Students.. it is student lead. my question is this. can it be displayed at a sporting event that is payed for by all taxpayers and donations from the community and not cross lines with church and state issues? im not asking if its right. I'm asking is this a violation of what the courts see as separation of church and state. I dont know, im asking. should it be a battle? (yes) is there pressident in the court system to say you cant do this. i would guess yes there is. we lose cases every Christmas of nativity scens on town hall lawns. i dont think this will be seen as anything more than that in the court system and dont think the school wants to try. The only issue i have is if we allow this we have to allow the Koran to be displayed and i would hate to see something like that even at the same level as The Holy Scripture.

[dawgs10]

what has happend is the student section is making individual signs and bring them to the game and nothing can be said about that and it also says more for the individual students resolve in this matter. so a good thing has come out of it.

[dolfan]

You know what would be cool? If they would make a sign that just had a large punctuation colon on it. You know, one of these :.
A symbolic way of saying "you can stop us from making a sign with the words on it, but you can't win the battle for our minds."

[dawgs10]

You know what would be cool? If they would make a sign that just had a large punctuation colon on it. You know, one of these :.
A symbolic way of saying "you can stop us from making a sign with the words on it, but you can't win the battle for our minds."

trust me, people at LFO wont get it!!!!

[dawgs10]

You know what would be cool? If they would make a sign that just had a large punctuation colon on it. You know, one of these :.
A symbolic way of saying "you can stop us from making a sign with the words on it, but you can't win the battle for our minds."

but you know dolfan, if you understand youth ministry, and understand a young generation of people you will come to one conclusion. they will fight for what is right and they dont need ammendmentsto be passed to do so. and because of this issue at LFO there are more young people involved now than ever before. thats the point i was trying to make. but you maymarch on the white house if you would like. thats worked in the past so many times by middle age white business owners.

[dolfan]

You're right. I hope these kids find a way to make their stand, publicly. I thought it would be a very, um, defiant symbol and a great picture of "here's what's left of faith in the public square if the government has its way". After all, if you strip that sign of all of the, ahem, objectionable words, the colon is all that's left. And, it is readily identifiable by anyone familiar with the bible as being associated with biblical references. However they do it, more power to 'em.

While I don't want teachers leading prayer and bible study in public schools, I do think that student-inititated conduct like this is not unconstitutional -- but the Supreme Court has clearly stated otherwise, I'm afraid. More power to these kids.

[Brian]

While I don't want teachers leading prayer and bible study in public schools, I do think that student-inititated conduct like this is not unconstitutional -- but the Supreme Court has clearly stated otherwise, I'm afraid. More power to these kids.

Hey dolfan do you have a reference for that? Just curious because I thought student initiated religious expression was ok. Any clarification?

[macgulley]

While I don't want teachers leading prayer and bible study in public schools...

I'm glad to hear someone else say this. I'm afraid we're in the minority among our fellow believers with this position, though.

[Brian]

Doing a little web surfing and found this. It is similar in topic to this thread is why I put it here.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S LOGIC
In 1787, after the War for Independence from Britain had been won, as the founding fathers were holding meetings to draft a constitution, the delegates came to a hopeless deadlock after meeting for more than two months. Alexander Hamilton, the delegate from New York had already gone home in disgust. At that crucial moment, Benjamin Franklin, believing the scriptures, rose to his feet on the floor of the Constitutional Convention and called for the reinstitution of daily vocal public prayers, saying:

In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor….And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need his assistance?

I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth–that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, sir, in the Sacred Writings, that “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; an I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel….

I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business….

There are conflicting accounts as to whether a formal vote was taken on Franklin’s motion (although there is evidence that public prayer took place thereafter in the Convention), but it is indisputable that, thereafter, the delegates found common ground and the Constitution was born. One year and nine months after Franklin’s remarks, on April 7, 1789, one day after the Senate of the First Congress convened with a quorum, the Senate appointed a committee “to take under consideration the manner of electing chaplains.” On April 25, 1789, the Senate elected its first chaplain. On May 1, 1789, the House elected its first chaplain. On September 22, 1789, Congress passed a statute providing for payment of chaplains. Three days later, on September 25, 1789, Congress reached final agreement on the language of the First Amendment (including the Establishment Clause). The First Congress obviously perceived no conflict between the Establishment Clause and vocal, public prayer in a government organized setting on government property.

Franklin’s words answer the question this paper poses: “Why public vocal prayer?” Franklin’s experience showed him that God blesses institutions when God is publicly recognized, honored and sought. In excluding a public and vocal recognition and honoring of God in the public arena of schools, has our public school system, in some respects, become America’s modern day Tower of Babel? There are 48,000,000 students attending public schools in America. And the number of secondary school-age students is on the rise: “The U.S. Census Department says the American teen population is on a growth spurt. From 31 million last year to an estimated 50 million by the year 2010.” Dateline NBC (NBC television broadcast, July 7, 1999). If something does not change, the problems are likely to get worse as the teen population swells in this country over the next ten years. The time to do something is now.

http://www.myschoolprayer.com/student-initiated-prayer/

[PastorDaniel]

I actually live in Lakeview...the "L" in LFO. It's a huge deal! It was "one" Lady who made a complaint...and this area is a very church going religious area...churches on every corner...sometimes two on the same corner!